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10/29/2015 12:00 AMIt’s hard to miss Jack Giaconia on the football field—or anywhere else for that matter. In a game that features its fair share of big guys, Jack still stands out while patrolling the gridiron. At 6-foot-5 and 314 pounds, the senior captain two-way tackle looks like a man among boys.
Jack, who’s played varsity football all four years at Valley, didn’t start with the sport until 8th grade, when his friend Jared Roche and older brother Ben convinced him to suit up. Jack played on defense his freshman year and then made his mark as a sophomore by recording 76 tackles. Now a senior captain, the two-time All-Pequot defensive lineman has 37 tackles and two sacks working at a position that doesn’t typically yield big statistics. For his career, Jack’s made 152 tackles, including 50 for loss, with 5.5 sacks, one blocked punt, and two fumble recoveries.
Jack’s primary responsibility as a nose tackle on defense is to occupy space to let those around him make some plays. While Jack takes up two and sometimes three offensive linemen, his teammates reap the benefits by filling lanes and bringing down ball carriers without having to shed blockers. Jack’s selfless attitude and knack for doing the dirty work make him an ideal leader, which is why he’s in his second season at the captain’s helm for the Warriors.
“I do my job—hold ground, take up as many players as I can,” says Jack, who lives in Lyme. “The things I love most about football is the physicality, the family aspect with your teammates and coaches, and the commitment. You need to work hard all year to be good in the games. You need to put in the time in the weight room. If you want to be a good team, you have to put in the work and I try to do that by leading by example.”
Jack may be well on his way to earning a third-straight All-Pequot selection, although these types of accolades aren’t what he’s most proud of. Jack’s junior year was interrupted when he suffered a broken fibula, which looked liked a season-ending injury. However, Jack made it back in just six weeks and was on the field when Valley rallied to beat Ansonia 21-20 in the Class S Large Division state championship game. Even while hobbled on the field with screws still in his leg, Jack fought through both the pain and his opposing linemen to spur his team to victory and prove himself as a true Warrior in more ways than one.
“It was incredible and unexpected,” says Jack of playing in the state title game. “I didn’t think I would touch the field again, but I worked hard and, when the doctors said it was okay to go, I did my best. To go out and contribute with the guys and beat a powerhouse like Ansonia, it was just an unbelievable experience.”
Speaking of being a powerhouse, Jack isn’t just a star on the football field—he’s also one of the strongest people to ever walk the halls at Valley Regional High School. Jack holds the total weight record at the school based on a weightlifting event that has four categories in the squat, power clean, dead-lift, and bench press. Jack’s combined total in the four is 1,600 pounds and he can squat an amazing 500.
“He’s a weight room warrior and I’m a stickler when it comes to squatting, so his 500 pounds is legitimate,” says Valley football Head Coach Tim King. “Jack is a hard-working son-of-a-gun and an absolute pleasure to coach. He’s just such a great kid. Obviously, he’s huge, but he doesn’t just rely on his size. He’s smart, has a presence, is a tremendous captain and leader. To come back from what was supposed to be a season-ending injury that he had and make an impact in the state championship game just shows his work ethic is second to none.”
Jack, who has received many offers from colleges and visited the University of Rhode Island (URI) campus last spring, also excels in the classroom. He’s been a regular on the honor roll at Valley and was invited to join the National Society of High School Scholars—a distinction reserved for those who accumulate an average of 88 or better every year of high school. As far as playing football in college goes, Jack says he doesn’t care if winds up crushing opponents on defense or making pancake blocks on the offensive line.
“I love playing defense and offense is fun, too, so we’ll see what happens,” Jack says. “I visited URI in the spring and Central Connecticut State University a few weeks ago and I’ll play where ever a team needs me, whether its defensive or offensive line. I’ll just be excited to put on the jersey.”
Coach King has no doubt that Jack has what it takes to play football on the collegiate circuit.
“I’m positive Jack can play at the next level. You can’t coach his size. And his play on the field will land him in that position. He’s created a great opportunity for himself and I know anybody who gets him will be happy with the way he works on and off the field,” King says. “We’re definitely going to miss him. He’s mature for his age and a very nice young man off the field, as well.”
Following the historic season of 2014, Valley has struggled a bit this year with its record of 2-4, although that isn’t affecting the team’s attitude. With four games left in the season, Jack is looking to once again show himself as a leader by making an impact any way he can in his final campaign with the Warriors.
“We lost a lot of players from last year’s team, so we have a young team that is rebuilding a bit this season. The guys are giving it their all and developing as players,” says Jack. “I love football and my job as one of the captains and the other senior’s jobs are to go out there and, hopefully, show the young guys how to work hard, put in the time and the effort, and be a good teammate.”